Title: Dark Desire
Author: Stephanie Bedwell-Grime
Published in May 2005 by New Concepts Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
IBSN: 0000000271
Related Books: The Bleeding Sun
Kirsten does not appreciate the fact that her father has traded her like a horse, from one man to another. The indignity of the situation does not set well with her. As the youngest of seven sisters, Kirsten was the last to be married off. Since her mother was no longer in the picture, she had no choice but to obey her father’s wish by marrying a stranger. When Kirsten arrived at Castle Berthold, she realized that at the young age of seventeen she was the new mistress of the crumbling house. Kirsten feels that her new home is a prison and is frightened by what to expect on her wedding night. What Inga told her about what would happen confused her. She was not looking forward to being the possession of a stranger and having to submit to him in all things. She is pleasantly surprised to find that her husband is a caring man. After the beautiful night of love they spend together, Kirsten yearns for his touch.
At the age of 29, Valdemar has the ability to laugh at the rumor that he killed his first wife. While Kirsten expected him to be angry when she brought the rumor up in their marriage bed, he explained her death away as a terrible accident. There are numerous other tales floating around that Valdemar is cursed and had a string of fiancées that died mysteriously. He is lonely and has spent many years without enjoying the women in his life; he desires female companionship. He finds that his new bride is sweet and lovely and is soon falling in love with her. He is concerned with how his marriage and feelings for his bride will change his outlook on life and his very existence.
Cornelius might be his best friend, but he mocks Valdemar when he confesses his feelings for his new wife. Cornelius is a confirmed bachelor. He even went so far as to bet on the fact that Valdemar would go through with his planned marriage to Kirsten although it would cause a huge scandal. Cornelius jumps at the chance to remind Valdemar that he married Kirsten for her dowry and no one expected him to keep her past the wedding. As Valdemar’s feelings for Kirsten develop, Cornelius provides the substance that Valdemar needs to survive. His friend does not want to leave his bride’s side and Cornelius will do all in his power to help Valdemar out.
Once Kirsten realizes the real nature of Valdemar, she feels compelled to seek sanctuary with her father, but he provides no comfort for her in her time of need. Even when she implores him that she fears for her life, he sends her back to her husband. When she returns to Berthold Castle, she is locked in her room and is forced to reevaluate her very existence. Valdemar is not willing to let her go because of the feelings he has for her, but she does not know what to do. While she might still yearn for him, she cannot get over his very nature. Kirsten struggles to meet his demands of being calm and reasonable in order to ensure he releases from her rooms. Once she gives in to him and realizes the power that she wields, she knows that she has more control over her life than ever before.
Dark Desire by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime is a short tale that looks at how one woman goes from being a man’s possession to having control over her own future. Her father trades Kirsten on her seventeenth birthday to Valdemar. A man rumored to have killed many women that were in his life. Kirsten is naive, does not know what goes on between a man and a woman, and fears her husband. Valdemar resides at Berthold Castle, a home that is past it’s prime. The furnishings and very walls of the castle are reminiscent of past splendor. Everything in Valdemar’s life is ancient except for his new bride. His feelings develop for Kirsten although he knows that having her for his wife is a complication that he does not really need. Cornelius is close friends with Valdemar and tries to make Kristen’s adjustment to her new life as painless as possible, but the desire he feels for her gets in his way.
Ms. Bedwell-Grime has written a wonderful tale of coming of age in a day when women were not given any say over their life. Kirsten struggles with the feelings she has for her husband. She is not sure that she can get past the knowledge that he was not her choice, but her father’s choice for her. A woman likes to know that she is more than just a possession and is actually desired for who she is, not just her dowry. Since she was not getting the reassurances from her husband that she so desperately needed she sought out comfort another man. Get your copy of Dark Desire today from New Concepts Publishing to find out if Kirsten will end up with Valdemar or Cornelius.
Sincerely yours,
Annmarie
Stephanie Bedwell-Grime Review Buy Stephanie Bedwell-Grime Books
